B atter y-terminal



. A. HAEFELE. BATTERY TERMINAL] v A PPFICATION FILED JAN-"23, 1914-.

' INVEN'TOR. v ALBERT H. HAEIELE a I ATTORNEY PatentedMay3,1921Q .UNITEJD STATES PATENT iQFFl C -Ef 1 o aZZ whom it may concern ALBEnrn. 'nnnrn'nn on Ln nwoon, OHIO, nssrqlvon, BY 1{IESNE ASS[GNMENT S T0 NATIONAL cannon COMPANY, Inc, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

BATTERY-TERMINAL. 1

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed January 23, 1914. Serial No. 813,928.

Be it known that I, ALBERYCL" I-I. a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Lakewood in the'county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Battery-Terminals, of which the following is-a full clear, and exact description.

This application relatesto that form of an electricalconnection commonly known as a spring clip. These are extensively used for making electrical connections for dry cells, as well as for many other purposes.

It has formerly been. the practice to solder,

rivet or otherwise fasten a spring clip to th metal cap ofa dry' cell carbon. The clip and cap aretherefore necessarily formed by distinct operations and additional-time and labor are required tosecure the two together-. The voltage of a dry cell is not high and it isimportant to secure agood electrical conthe clip is secured to the cap by rivetsor screws a high resistance connection fre quently results. Even though the connectionis in good condition when the cell leaves the factory, the clip is liable to work loose when putin use which causes a useless waste of energy as well as a low terminal voltage of the cell. soldered connections are liable to loosen on account of corrosion or electrolytic action and in addition are liable tobe knocked off by rough handling. It'is the object of my invention to overcome disadvantages.

In the drawings v A: g 1 T 1 Figure 1 is a side viewof bnetype of clip formed integral with a cap for a carbon electrode.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the clip shown in Fig. 1. v v Fig. 3 is a side view of a modification." f Fig. 4c is a perspective view of the type shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a topview of Fig. 3. s Fig. 6 is a side view of another modification.

Fig. 7 is a top view" and Fig. 8 is a per i spective view of the modification shown in Fig. 6. I In each of the forms shown in the drawings the cap, which is adapted to be applied to a carbon electrode of a dry cell, consists these i members 9. p I berlQis formed from the central member s and its free end is opposite to those of the of. a cylindrical side portion 1. and atop portion 2. .The cap is preferably punched allel cuts in the top of the cap,-the two outer ones being of equal length and somewhat another cut at the end and the shorter cuts similarly at the same end, two members 3-and 4' areformedfrom the cap. The, outer mem- ,.ber 3 consists of two similar side pieces 5 JOlIlGd at the end by the strip 6. The sec.-

ond member 4 is 'a hook shaped strip located intermediatethe sides 5. Both members rema n joined to the top ofthe cap at the side opposite thestrip 6. The member 5 of the clip is, bent above the top 2 as shown'inthe drawings so as to permit its being moved downward for the insertion of the con- .ductor.

The tongue -orhook 4 is bent to form an angular wire engaging portion 7 frombrass of such thickness and compositionas to be. suitably resilient. In Figs. 1 and 2 the clip is formed by making four par- Pat nted Ma '3, 1921.

which projectsabove the cap and cooper-w ates with the pressure member 3. The exact manner in which the two members are bent ,Qrformed is-not material, but it ispreferable to shape them so that the two pieces cooperate to form a suitable recess for the conductor 8, anditis preferable to stamp 1 the cap and clip in one operation from sheet metal.

The modification shown in Figs- 3 to 5 is iormed in much the same manner as that" shown in-Figspl and-2, by making four parallel cuts and forming movable pressure and stationary tongue members. Instead of .joining the two outer strips by a stripfi as in Figs. 1 and 2, these outer strips are cut loose fromthe top. in the same manner as the tongue i and are similarly shaped to form two stationary angular Wire engaging The pressure resisting memmembers 9, though obviously all three members may extend in the same direction. The

member 10 is bent above the cap and suitis formed asin Figs. 3 to 5 but the members 11 do not 'have'a free end. The types pf caps illustrated Figs.- .3 to 8 inclusive are specifically claimed in divisional applications Ser. No. 18,273 and 18,274, each I filed March 31, 1915.

In each of the foregoing cases the operation of the clips is facilitated by forming ridges or depressions 12 in either the pressure or tongue members or in both. This will contract the metal and afford the necessary clearance for free movement and in addition add to the strength.

The improved forms of caps for dry cell carbons have no contact drop in the connection between clip and cap, are more easily made and cannot be jarred loose by rough handling. Such a connection has a distinct advantage over the old type;

Having described my invention what I claim is:

- 1. In an electric battery, an electrode terminal, having a top and depending skirt, plurality of spaced members out from the top, and integral therewith at one end, one

ormore of the members having a depression-adapted to cooperate with the remaining members to detachably retain a conductor.

2. In an electric battery, an electrode terminal having a top and a depending skirt and three adjacent spaced members out from the top so as to be integral therewith at.

one end each, the twooutside members being integrally connected attheir free ends, and the middle member having a hook at one end to retain a conductor in conjunction with the outside members.

3. In an electric battery, an electrode terminal having a top and depending skirt, a plurality of spaced members cut from the top and integral therewith at one end, one

or more of the members being bent at a minal having a top and depending skirt, and three parallel members out from the top so as to be integral therewith at one end each, the two outside members being iiitegrally connected at their free ends, said outside members being bent at a point near the integral ends to extend above the top and bent at a second point to form a spring member, and the intermediate member being bent upward from the top to form an angular wire retaining portion adapted to cooperate with the spring member to detachably retain a conductor.

5. A terminal comprising a top, a flange projecting at an angle from one side of said top, a spring tongue attached to and extending across the other side of said top, and wire-receiving means attached to and projecting above such other side of said top and arranged adjacent to and cooperating with sa d tongue to hold a conductor therebetween.

6. A one-piece terminal cap comprising atop, a depending circular flange thereon, a spring tongue struck up from and extending across the other or upper side of said top,

and Wire-receiving means struck up from said upper side of said top adjacent said tongue and adapted to cooperate with the latter to hold a conductor therebetween.

7. A battery terminal cap comprising a top, a circular flange depending from said top, a spring tongue struck up from and extending across the upper side of said top, and a pair of wire-receiving members struck up from said upper side of said top, said members being disposed on opposite sides of said tongue and adapted to cooperate therewith to hold a conductor therebetween, such top, flange, tongue and members being formed from a single piece of metal and integral with one another.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT H. I-IAEFELE. 

